Lydia Muriel Potter

Lydia Muriel Potter October 22, 1922 – March 19, 2013 Lydia was born on the family’s farm in Molalla to Ralph and Muriel Whiteis. With older brother Oren, the family moved to Ryderwood, Washington in 1924 where Lydia grew up and sister Doris entered the family. Lydia was a tomboy who enjoyed sports and exploring the countryside. She was also involved in many school activities. Ralph and Muriel moved to Oregon around 1940 where they settled in Lebanon. Lydia came to Portland to work in the shipyards as part of the war effort but took a clerical position in the U.S. Forest Service regional office after completing business school. She met and married Portland musician Edward Potter in 1947. The newlyweds rented an apartment in Vanport where Lydia barely escaped the flood of 1948. In 1950 their only child, Mary was born and they purchased a bungalow in the Woodlawn neighborhood where they lived for nearly 50 years. Edward worked for the Bonneville Power Administration before employment with the City of Portland Auditor’s Office from which he retired. He also continued his music career until the late 1960s. Lydia was a homemaker and stay-at-home mother until daughter Mary entered her final years of elementary school. Lydia re-entered the working world as a cashier at Woodlawn Pharmacy. She eventually acquired responsibility for customer accounts and overseeing the running of the non-pharmacy portion of the store. After many years Lydia left the pharmacy to take an administrative support position with the Portland Police and Fire Pension Fund from which she retired. Lydia was an avid and accomplished seamstress, beginning with doll clothes when young and eventually tailoring her own work suits and making most of her clothing and Mary’s school clothes. One ambitious Christmas Lydia made matching shirts for all the cousins and aunts and uncles. She knitted and crocheted as well, and welcomed each new niece and nephew with a layette set. Lydia did counted cross-stitch and incorporated Mary’s equestrian interests into her projects. In keeping with the equestrian theme, Lydia also made English saddle pads, saddle covers, and related clothing to sell to the equestrian crowd. Lydia also liked to garden, which she continued until arthritis slowed her down. Lydia and Ed enjoyed reunions of the Woody Hite Band members, and traveled to gatherings of the 41st Infantry Division Band veterans. In 1984 they traveled to Australia and New Zealand with other Jungleers to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the Sunset Division’s departure from Australia. Lydia and Ed moved to Wilsonville in 1999. When Edward passed in 2001, Mary moved in with her mother and they took care of each other during Lydia’s final years. Lydia was preceded in death by her brother Oren. She is survived by her daughter Mary Potter, sister Doris Andree, and numerous nieces, nephews and their offspring. Lydia did not desire services. She will be interred with Edward at Willamette National Cemetery. She would appreciate any remembrances in her memory to the Oregon Heart Association or the Oregon Alzheimer’s Association. Service Information